Revenge is the best show on television right now

*with the exception of Homeland, but who’s counting cable?

Screw “Quality TV” with its hyper realism and depressing commentary on everyday life (looking at you The Wire, Mad Men, etc) nothing can match the sheer excellence of a soap done right, and Revenge is done right. Every episode brings significant intrigue, raises the stakes, and sets one hell of a pace, while maintaing the development of new roadblocks for Emily in a focused manner, there is no Weeds-style cluttering here. The characters are surprisingly fleshed out, Madeleine Stowe is brilliant as the ruthless Victoria and Emily Vancamp is pulling off the duality of her role almost seamlessly. Each week brings a delicious new complication and with it a sense of empowerment, Emily is no shrinking violet, no victim of circumstance, as she said in this week’s episode “I don’t panic.” It is thrilling to watch her coldly set everything around her on fire, and feeling fucking fabulous about doing it. (For contrast see every other heroine on TV, has it become mandatory for actresses to cry at least once in every single episode?)

Alright, alright! It’s no Mad Men or The Wire (I knew I’d get in trouble for saying that) but it’s so rare to find a soap done this well that after watching every episode you can’t help but proclaim just the opposite.

Do yourself a favour and watch it (just don’t complain to me about the over-announced narration or boring Charlotte/Declan C plot, I didn’t say it was perfect).

Don’t Watch ‘Ringer’, Watch ‘Revenge’

So Pilot Season is among us. Out of the crop of potential new series Ringer seemed to be highlighted as the most anticipated drama with internet folk, and why not? It has the return of everybody’s favourite Vampire Slayer, a decidedly soapy tone, and a downright compelling premise (an identical twin takes the place of her socialite sister after she apparently commits suicide). The only problem is apart from its potential, Ringer mostly sucked. There, I said it! Of all the reviews I’ve read people seem to be desperately clinging to the idea of liking it, or the hope it can get better, because well, it has so much damned potential. But let’s face it, out of Joss Whedon’s hands Sarah Michelle Gellar comes across hammy when trying to be dramatic, and in a show with very little comedic touch that is a lot of ham. She isn’t helped by clunky scripting and no regard for a little thing called character motivation (Bridgett was compelled to take her sister’s place, she apparently didn’t have a choice… and that’s about the only explanation we’re given). If only the script had been more finely sculpted, allowed room for humour and more of a distinction between the sisters when they actually talked to each other. I may be harsh, in fact when I first watched Ringer I was among the “let’s try and look over these glaring faults” folk, but then I watched the Revenge pilot.

I was expecting Revenge to be bad. To be very, very bad. I just watched it then and I feel the need to tell people this is actually really very good, please watch it! Sure, it’s not the kind of calibre we’re used to from “quality TV” (HBO, Showtime, AMC etc) and it’s not even as tightly scripted as the first season of Desperate Housewives (the other heavily soapy show this calls to mind), but it’s still surprisingly well done, the opening scene alone is gripping and sets up a real sense of danger. The characterisation is solid, there is proper motivation (pay attention Ringer), I mean watching the flashbacks and revelations about Amanda’s father made me want to get revenge on these horrible people. This is absolute Schadenfreude and it is pretty darn fantastic. The storyline is basically a modern day retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo, with genders switched. Amanda has changed her name and appearance and settled into the Hamptons to exact revenge on the rich socialites who sent her father to jail (where he later died) for a crime he did not commit. Yeah, I don’t know how this can be carried beyond one season either, but who cares, this premise is working right now. The scene at the end of the pilot where the veil of Emily comes off and the full hardened core of Amanda is revealed is sensational. The dual capacity of this charade is wonderfully complicated and wonderfully executed by Emily Vancamp, again bringing into light how much Ringer misstepped in comparison.

If you were disappointed by Ringer or simply love a good juicy soap definitely give Revenge a chance, at least before ABC shoves it off the air. It does have its problems, the occasional awkward line and a tad too much sweetener is used when reminiscing about dear old dad, but these problems are easily overlooked.

Hopefully the quality won’t waver when the series continues next week.

Weeds Watch: Try Again, Fail Better

This post contains spoilers, so before you read it bounce in front of the tv in your giant suffocating see-through ball (sorry, art piece) and watch the third episode of Weeds Season 7.

Things are looking up, or at least more optimistic than episode two. Nancy’s getting back in the game and refusing to be put down, of course she has plan, she always has has a plan, who was I to doubt. Okay, so maybe it’s not the best idea in the world to be going back into the drug business after three years in prison, but hey the show is called Weeds.

Hail of Bullets:

  • Shane’s going to college. Good. Also, loved the bank scenes
  • Like Andy’s new love interest, the artist, and her bizarre experiment on art society, has potential
  • My God, could Nancy’s sister be any more of a bitch? I mean I get why you’d want to take custody away from Nancy (let’s be honest, she hasn’t been the best mum, though she does unflinchingly and unconditionally love her kids) but the way she announced it… urrrg… 
  • Another new character: the drug councillor, she has sympathy for Nancy, Nancy needs some sympathy right now
  • “I’m glad you’re out of prison.” Andy is definitely the most likeable person on this show, end of story.
  • Nancy tarts it up with her new dealer, as usual
  • … followed by a swift “you get what you deserve” from Silas, heartbreaking

Also, worth a look: Jenji Kohan explains the direction of this season in an interview on the official showtime website.

Torchwood is Back in a Big Way

This post contains spoilers, so if you haven’t already grab your concealed rocket launcher (and your newborn baby) and watch the first episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day.

This is Torchwood exactly as it should have been. Forget the low budget effects, the dully plotted story lines, and the incessant melodrama that plagued the first two seasons. This is the fulfillment of the kind of potential we saw in the incredible miniseries Children of Earth, which asked a terrifying moral question (would we sacrifice a percentage of all the children on Earth so that we could survive?) and answered it with a cold efficiency. Instead of a group of self-important officials strutting around Cardiff and speaking arrogantly into their headsets (I mean seriously, what was with those headsets?) we now have a covert underground conspiracy buried in the mysterious past of British Intelligence. Almost reminiscent of the early days of The X Files in its hushed tone and excitedly paranoid story lines, this new Torchwood is refreshing, fast paced, and very compelling.

Hail of bullets:

  • The opening scene was fantastic, new and disturbing, showing us immediately the double edged sword of immortal life
  • A smart move on waiting almost half the episode’s running time to have Capt’ Jack’s first appearance, in the meantime we get introduced to an array of new (American) characters, the best of which is probably Esther Drummond, a CIA analyst who begins her own investigation into Torchwood when noticing a series of linking events
  • The true brilliance (and horror) of the premise is revealed when Gwen speaks to her long time police liaison and they realize the immense population boom to come, again showing the fantastic moral grey area and highlighting what will no doubt be the main question running through the season: how can you save people from immortality?
  • Reboot is written all over this episode (especially when Esther shows surprise at the possibilities of aliens, apparently the events of Children of Earth went unnoticed in the States…) but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, the series can appeal to new viewers and possibly survive to a fifth season
  • The added budget given to the show by the Americans has resulted in some truly spectacular action sequences (the bomb in the library, the attack on Gwen’s house, which gave us the irresistible shot of Gwen firing a gun with baby in hand, as well as the exciting chase sequence that followed)
  • All in all, with a gritty premise, glossy budget, and intriguing new characters this season of Torchwood is really shaping up, let’s just hope they don’t drop the ball…

True Blood Watch: Double, double toil and trouble…

Something very wicked this way comes…

This post contains spoilers, so if you haven’t already climb out of your secret cubby in Sookie’s house and watch the second episode of True Blood Season 4.

So this is a very belated review then, first impressions though, this episode kept up the action and pace, gave us a few interesting twists and developments, and continued to set up the witches as the first genuinely intriguing mystery plot since Mary Ann in Season 2.

Hail of bullets:

  • Eric talking to Sookie about her coming to realise her powers, I really hope Sookie comes into her own this season and does a bit more than taste like “sunshine in a blonde bottle”
  • Sam’s love interest is actually interesting, well that’s a surprise (remember the ditzy waitress who could turn into a doe from season 2… urrrg)
  • Say what you will, I loved the 1980s flashback, plus an excuse to have more of Nan can never go wrong
  • Glad to see Tara back, and to see she’s actually gone through some major character development
  • Arlene’s baby really is starting to get quite creepy, this is a good thing, devil babies are always fun
  • Sookie’s reaction to Eric’s “secret cubby”, she seems to be a lot more likeable this season
  • Again, completely over Hoyt and Jessica, it’s the most boring storyline now
  • The last scene with the witches: completely fantastic
  • Okay, Werepanthers? I mean come on, seriously?! Alright, I have to get over this ridiculous plot point because Jason turning into one could actually work… or not…
  • Eric’s got amnesia? Really??? Eh, let’s just see where this goes…

Weeds Watch: Is she the same old Nancy?

This review contains spoilers, so if you haven’t already grab your ironic New Light Korean Baptist clothes and watch the latest episode of Weeds.

When watching this weeks episode it’s hard not to feel that Jenji Kohan may have taken things just a tad too far. What was once an interesting (and fun) examination of a character addicted to danger has become… well, sad. While the season 6 finale was brilliant, in hindsight it might not have been such a good idea to throw Nancy behind bars. It has given the show a very dark edge, even more so then how it was before. I’m speaking of course of the scene where Nancy reveals she has no plan, she’s been through hell and all she can do now is try to survive. Quite frankly, it’s becoming hard to watch. That being said, the writing is as sharp as ever and there still seems to be a few plot twists ahead, I’m still a rabid fan and definitely going to continue watching, I just want Nancy to pull herself together and come out of this on top.

Hail of bullets:

  • That horrible moment where Nancy and Silas both looked at each through the glass, poignant and incredibly sad.
  • “You have no idea how ironic this jacket is.”
  • The Definitive Guide to French Cooking
  • After her interaction with Andy I’m beginning to like Nancy’s roommate… that may be worrying…

TV This Week: True Blood, Weeds, The Big C

Warning, spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t already grab a warm bottle of Tru Blood, a suitcase full of grenades, your best drug rep costume and watch the latest offerings from TV this week…

True Blood
Holy time jump Batman! True Blood unexpectedly reboots the series and I think it paid off. Hail of bullets:

  • Definitely want to see more of the fairy plane, and with the witches not-so-subtley referencing it I think we will… 
  • Bill finally gets something to do that isn’t chasing Sookie around, and it makes his character a LOT more interesting, plus it’s been a year so it’s understandable he’s over her, great move on the writers’ part as it lets Eric move in without us feeling so bad
  • Initially I loved Jessica and Hoyt together, but now… not so much. It feels as though he’s just pulling her down from being the infinitely cool vampire she has so much potential to be, but since this was their only source of conflict this episode I think we’re going to see a bit more of cool-Jessica
  • Tara fixed her hair… and got a lady lover, which, in all honesty, was expected. She’s happy but how is she going to be brought back into the world of Bon Temps? My guess, witches
  • Speaking of witches, the last scene in the episode was great (except the awkward bit of dialogue from Layfayette regarding the dead/alive/dead parrot, it was really just an excuse for the head to witch to act all creepy), the coven has potential to be quite sinister… if only it didn’t feel so ‘indie-after-school-yoga-class-ish’
  • It was nice to see Jason so happy about Sookie being back… but everyone else seemed to hardly react… I mean it has been a WHOLE year and they did think she was dead…
  • So Sam shot his brother and now he’s shacking up with Hoyt’s mother??? And what was that relationship?? Are they actually lovers??? (resisting urge to throw up)
  • Annnnd the cliffhanger: don’t really think Eric’s going to rape Sookie…
  • So for the most part the time jump worked, except for a few awkward lines of expository dialogue

Weeds
Speaking of time jumps… Weeds brings us an apologetically series changing premiere, and it’s fantastic.

  • Nancy also seems to have a lady lover… not expected… but at least she was having a nice (?) time in prison… though the way they kissed (and the episode’s ending) it looked a bit like Nancy was using her for her own ends
  • So they finally made Silas a model, and Shane a… puppeteer? Why not, at least the series still has a sense of humour
  • Speaking of humour, it actually works that Doug has managed to stick around and Andy could not be more likeable
  • Nancy’s sister is a bitch. Full stop.
  • Thank Christ, Nancy has a plan, the fantastically intriguing ending shows us once again not to ever dismiss this show, and once again how great their musical taste is

The Big C
The premiere episode felt very rushed, as if they were trying to cram in all the beginnings for all potential stories for this season, which they probably were. Still, nice to see Cathy back and this time with some fighting spirit.

  • Very, very glad they didn’t kill the dog, it’s one of the golden rules of television for a reason: never kill off the dogs or children
  • All the medication-induced visions of Marlene make me miss her, kind of wished they hadn’t killed her off so quickly
  • The fart jokes were gross… but it did have a wonderful pay-off
  • Cathy’s best friend’s reaction to the cancer news made me either love her more… or hate her more… haven’t decided, still glad she stuck around
  • It’s sad the young doctor is leaving, but really, he had to
  • Best scene of the episode: Cathy and her husband getting high, just fantastic

This post turned out bigger than I thought, I may separate them next week…